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Noisy open offices can lead to unproductive and stressed-out employees ... and, unfortunately, this work environment is prevalent. Organizations should look to headsets as tools to bridge the gap and increase productivity in the workplace. Headsets must meet the needs of employees (who need headsets that are comfortable, convenient, and cancel background noise) and their customers (who need clear conversations, every time they call) to achieve organizational goals.

Plantronics' newest DECT wireless headset series, the Savi 8200, has been built for the human experience. The Savi 8220 features active noise canceling (ANC) that blocks out background noise so you can always stay focused on what’s important. This is the first headset on the market that's designed with ANC for desk phones! And, to further enhance collaboration and communication, these headsets also connect to PCs and mobile phones/tablets. Count on Plantronics technology for rich, people-first collaboration experiences so good that ideas can be shared and heard—wherever, whenever and however they happen.

With the noise-canceling mic, you’ll sound your best even in noisy environments. For the most sensitive environments, you can turn up noise canceling with the close conversation limiting feature (configurable in Plantronics Hub, free download here) for additional privacy. The mic boom is flexible, allowing for optimal placement: two finger widths away from the corner of the user's mouth.

Is it time to reassess headsets at your organization? Are you looking for high quality professional headsets with superior sound?

It’s a scientific fact that leading a sedentary lifestyle can be harmful to one’s health.

The job category of “knowledge worker” – people who handle information as their job – can be considered sedentary, where employees remain seated and desk-bound for 8 or more hours each day. This does not include their commute time to the job … which could be an hour or more each way. Your job (and the time it takes to get there) just may be harming you!

What are the harmful effects of inactivity?

According to an article on the Australian government health department web site, some hazards associated with sitting all day include:

Weakened legs and gluteals, which could lead to falls, and strains when exercising

Weight gain

Hips and back – hip flexor muscles shortened, leading to problems in hip joints; sitting for extended periods of time can cause problems in your back, especially if you have poor posture

Anxiety and depression

Cancer, heart disease, diabetes

Varicose veins, Deep vein thrombosis

Stiff neck and shoulders

In the United States, it’s estimated that 86 percent of workers have desk jobs. This sitting epidemic could be a national health crisis! So, what can be done about this?

The current official U.S.-government issued Physical Activity Guidelines, in place since 2008, says that adults (classified as ages 18-64) who are physically active are less likely to develop chronic diseases than adults who aren’t active – regardless of gender or ethnicity. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion reports that the worst thing to do is to avoid activity – any physical activity is better than none, and has health benefits.

At least twice a week, muscle-strengthening activities that are moderate or high intensity and involve all major muscle groups should be completed. This is defined as lifting weights or using resistance bands. Why is strength training recommended? It protects bone health and muscle mass, makes you stronger and fitter, keeps weight off for good, burns more calories, and helps with balance, coordination and posture — to name a few of the benefits.

New government guidelines are expected to be published by the end of 2018.

Of course, these activities will happen either before or after work; however, it is still possible to incorporate physical activity into even the most sedentary of desk jobs.

Tips to Keep Your Office in Shape:
* Take the stairs instead of the elevator

This new Jabra wireless trade-in promotion is a first of its kind, offering $40 cash back for each non-Jabra wireless headset that is traded in, when you purchase a new Engage Series wireless headset. If you have wanted to make the switch to a Jabra wireless headset, NOW IS THE TIME! We have not seen a trade-in this big, EVER!

Or, if you already use a Jabra wireless headset (specifically, the PRO 920, 930, 935, 9450, 9460, 9465, or Motion/Motion Office), you can upgrade to the new Jabra Engage wireless series and receive a $20 rebate check in the mail for trading in your old Jabra wireless through the Technology Refresh promotion.

Additionally, when you upgrade your technology to the new Jabra Speak 710 wireless speakerphone, receive $20 back for a Jabra Speak 410/510, or $40 for a non-Jabra personal or huddle room speakerphone that is traded in. The Speak 710 (both UC and MS versions) offers wireless linking and connects to an additional Speak 710, for double the room coverage (up to 12 people). Connect to laptop, smart phone and tablet via USB or Bluetooth, and with plug-and-play simplicity, it's easy to set up wherever you take meetings. Fifteen hours of battery life ensures you can meet (or listen to music) for a long time.

Corded headsets have also been added to the mix, and with any Jabra Biz 2300 or 2400 II headset purchased, get $10/unit for existing Jabra wired solutions; or $20/unit for any non-Jabra wired solution.

These Technology Refresh promotions are only good through June 30, 2019, so take advantage of the savings and equip your staff with the latest and greatest in office and mobile wireless technology. Click here for the promotion's T's and C's.

Learn more about the qualifying headsets, below:

Engage with Jabra and its Engage series, an entirely new class of DECT wireless professional headsets. The series provides superior wireless connectivity to a range of up to 490 feet - and enables up to 3 times more users to operate in the same office space with no loss in connection quality. Integrated busy lights in these headsets increase productivity and alert co-workers' to your busy status.

Engage 75 headsets connect up to five devices simultaneously, increasing availability for customer calls. And the choice of wearing styles support workers' preferences and workstyles.

For detailed information about each Engage headset, click on any of the following links:

Contact us today for recommendations on the best headsets for your unique requirements! 1-866-998-9991

Tune out of a distracting environment, and tune into your work, with these headsets from Plantronics. Active Noise Canceling technology has crossed over to the business professional world, due to demand from professionals who require a space to concentrate, as well as headsets with noise-canceling microphones for premium call quality. The Active Noise Canceling (ANC) helps block out distracting sounds, creating a “quiet zone” to enhance productivity, no matter the environment.

According to Plantronics, a study out of the University of California shows that it takes an employee 23 minutes to recover from a distraction and get back to the task at hand, and that a majority of employees get distracted at least once a day. With these real-world statistics in mind, Plantronics created a calculator that helps you get an idea of how much noise is affecting your company’s profitability. Check it out: ROI Calculator

If you’re not sure which Plantronics ANC headset is right for you, give us a call at 1-866-998-9991, and our headset experts can help!

Sennheiser office and contact center headsets are high quality products with premium sound, and the new SDW 5000 DECT wireless series is no exception. Sennheiser positions the SDW series as future-proof devices with flexibility for modern office professionals in modern work environments.

Density and advanced security are the hallmarks of the series; a high density wide band mode assures excellent sound is possible in high density environments and the protected pairing, 128-bit authentication and DECT security certification keep conversations confidential.

Choose between the SDW 5015 for desk phone and computer or the SDW 5016 for desk phone, computer, and smartphone/tablet.

Product highlights:

Remarkable noise-canceling mic: In our testing of the SDW 5016 (MSRP: $409.00), we were amazed at the exceptional noise canceling in the microphone. We walked through our noisy warehouse with the normal background sounds of people speaking and a cart being pushed and loaded with products among the shelves, and the noise was not transmitted to the person on the other end of the call. This is because of the headset's two-mic design and cutting edge voice-detection technology. If you work in a noisy office, this is the perfect headset.

Videos: Sennheiser has produced a series of short YouTube videos that cover everything from how to assemble and wear the 3 included wearing styles* (headband, neck band, and ear hook), to how to handle, conference, and transfer calls. Another video highlights the different devices (USB and Bluetooth headsets and speakerphones) that can be connected to the SDW 5000 base. These videos are invaluable resources for SDW 5000 series headset wearers, who should bookmark the page for easy access: SDW 5000 Series Playlist.

Sennheiser included a built-in triangular busy light on the mic boom that turns Red when busy; Purple when streaming music; and Blue when the headset is docked on the base. New to the Sennheiser product line is a Busylight designed for the SDW series. Connect it to the Busylight port (marked in blue) at the back of any of the SDW base units, and your presence is immediately indentified as Red (Busy), Green (Available), or Yellow (Away). It can be attached to a computer monitor, or placed on a desk. It is UC and Skype for Business certified.

Ready to learn more about Sennheiser SDW 5000 headsets? Give us a call at 1-866-998-9991 and talk to one of our headset experts today!

*SDW 5015 comes with the ear hook and headband only; the neck band is an optional, additional purchase.